Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

[Ben Scott]

We had 2 Scarlets on Alyssa, but could easily have used two more RED's in another studio for interviews with the cast. Didn't have the time or budget, but that system happens a lot.

A number of promo shoots now have the following setup: 3 cameras on main stage, usually a medium and tight looking into camera, and then a third angle as a cutaway (either ex-cu on hands, or a very wide off axis shot).

Stage 2 will have another two cameras setup as an "interview" station for rest of cast - for BTS, for promos, for sizzles, etc.

Make sense?

Yep all makes sense. I'm just impressed that you're getting the budget/time/access to do that. Must be lovely working with people who like to do things properly

 

[Nick Morrison]

Yep all makes sense. I'm just impressed that you're getting the budget/time/access to do that. Must be lovely working with people who like to do things properly

Well I'm still at two cameras. I'll report back when I work my first 3 camera gig! When I work 5 cameras I'll buy everyone a round. Haha.

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Just got a few lenses from Tom last week. They were in excellent condition, work great, and shipping was super fast.

Thanks for the great deals Tom.

Thank you, Tyson! It was a pleasure doing business with you! Shoot some beautiful images and post 'em here so I can see them.

 

[Tom Greenberg]

My 100mm/f3.5 has been sold…the 35mm/f2.8 is still available…

 

[Nick Morrison]

the 35mm/f2.8 is still available…

A very small, very punchy lens. I'm sure this thing would kill on a gimbal. So small and good.

 

[Wito Rohler]

I dont know if this still counts as these shots are not "pure" Contax Zeiss, but I thought it would be quite interesting to show. The photos below are shot with the Contax Zeiss 50mm 1.4 and the Isco-Optic Cinemascope Ultra-Star on a Canon 600D, these are more or less tests of me trying out both lenses together. I am probably shooting a short film this weekend with the anamorphic lens, the 50mm 1.4 and my just ordered 85mm 2.8.

 

[Ben Scott]

A very small, very punchy lens. I'm sure this thing would kill on a gimbal. So small and good.

Pretty sure it's my favourite lens on full frame dslr AND Red.

 

[Ben Scott]

I dont know if this still counts as these shots are not "pure" Contax Zeiss, but I thought it would be quite interesting to show. The photos below are shot with the Contax Zeiss 50mm 1.4 and the Isco-Optic Cinemascope Ultra-Star on a Canon 600D, these are more or less tests of me trying out both lenses together. I am probably shooting a short film this weekend with the anamorphic lens, the 50mm 1.4 and my just ordered 85mm 2.8.

That looks sexy as hell. Anamorphic adapters scare me as it seems impossible to guarantee a decent one of the old classics and the prices are always too high to take a gamble. I wish that Letus Anamorphex thingy looked anywhere near as good.

 

[Nick Morrison]

I dont know if this still counts as these shots are not "pure" Contax Zeiss, but I thought it would be quite interesting to show. The photos below are shot with the Contax Zeiss 50mm 1.4 and the Isco-Optic Cinemascope Ultra-Star on a Canon 600D, these are more or less tests of me trying out both lenses together. I am probably shooting a short film this weekend with the anamorphic lens, the 50mm 1.4 and my just ordered 85mm 2.8.

OMG those look great. Where did you gou get your Isco?

 

[Nick Morrison]

That looks sexy as hell. Anamorphic adapters scare me as it seems impossible to guarantee a decent one of the old classics and the prices are always too high to take a gamble. I wish that Letus Anamorphex thingy looked anywhere near as good.

You're not liking the look of the Letus? Curious about it myself - especially the one that flares. But I have no hands on experience, so hunting for feedback. Paired with Contax primes, it could look ok for an in-house anamorphic option.

 

[Wito Rohler]

Ben, if you go the Vid-Atlantic website they give you some information of these kind of lenses, there is also the anamorphic shooter guide from EOSHD which tells you which ones are good and bad. I got my Isco from Ebay for a fair price I think. But if you look for projector lenses (like mine) try to find a seller who actually sells it as a projector lens, I didnt do it because I figured that out after I bought it :001_rolleyes: I am very surprised about the sharpness at 1.4... I was actually expecting to get an unusable image, but the anamorphic and the contax zeiss lens both performed great as far I can tell!

 

[Ben Scott]

You're not liking the look of the Letus? Curious about it myself - especially the one that flares. But I have no hands on experience, so hunting for feedback. Paired with Contax primes, it could look ok for an in-house anamorphic option.

Don't get me wrong, I'd have one in a heartbeat. I just haven't seen anything of it that blew me away. Plus the pronounced anamorphic squeeze shift with focusing means it's really more suitable for static shots isn't it?

 

[Ben Scott]

Ben, if you go the Vid-Atlantic website they give you some information of these kind of lenses, there is also the anamorphic shooter guide from EOSHD which tells you which ones are good and bad. I got my Isco from Ebay for a fair price I think. But if you look for projector lenses (like mine) try to find a seller who actually sells it as a projector lens, I didnt do it because I figured that out after I bought it :001_rolleyes: I am very surprised about the sharpness at 1.4... I was actually expecting to get an unusable image, but the anamorphic and the contax zeiss lens both performed great as far I can tell!

Thanks mate. Will check it out.

EDIT: What focal length was your Ultra Star?

 

[DAVID BARKAN]

Hey all!

I was just looking at the Oscar Nominees, and everyone is talking about how RED is not there, it's just Arri... I couldn't care less, I don't think it means shit.
What really caught my eye though, is that "Dallas Buyers Club" says it was shot with Carl Zeiss 35mm and 50mm lenses. I mean, all others say Superspeeds, Cooke S4, etc... but on that particular movie it only says "Carl Zeiss Lenses" could've been Contax? That would be really interesting. Anyone know were to find any info? I watched 3 making of videos but couldn't tell.

Anyone would care to ask Yves Bélanger? =)

Cheers.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hey all!

I was just looking at the Oscar Nominees, and everyone is talking about how RED is not there, it's just Arri... I couldn't care less, I don't think it means shit.
What really caught my eye though, is that "Dallas Buyers Club" says it was shot with Carl Zeiss 35mm and 50mm lenses. I mean, all others say Superspeeds, Cooke S4, etc... but on that particular movie it only says "Carl Zeiss Lenses" could've been Contax? That would be really interesting. Anyone know were to find any info? I watched 3 making of videos but couldn't tell.

Anyone would care to ask Yves Bélanger? =)

Cheers.

I have to imagine they used cinema lenses on a feature of that scale. Considering it's a period piece, maybe Super Speeds? Or Standard Primes? My guess considering it was all practical lighting would be Super Speeds - where the 1.2 aperture would come in handy.

Brilliant film.

 

[DAVID BARKAN]

I have to imagine they used cinema lenses on a feature of that scale. Considering it's a period piece, maybe Super Speeds? Or Standard Primes? My guess considering it was all practical lighting would be Super Speeds - where the 1.2 aperture would come in handy.

Brilliant film.

I thought so too... but, I mean, I would use some cinemodded Contaxes if I'd think the story "asks" for it's look.

This is what I'm talking about.

 

[Nick Morrison]

If Dallas Buyers Club did use Super Speeds, then that would mean 3 of the 9 "Best Films" were shot on SS, and one of them on Standard Primes. A nice nod for vintage glass.

 

[Uli Plank]

A bit off topic, since it's not a great camera for filming, but I'm eagerly waiting for my Sony A7R for photography. Can't wait to try my Contax lenses on it. Why is everybody writing about Leica-R on it only?

I promise to post…

 

[Ben Scott]

I'd be very interested in that. A photographer friend wants to test my lenses before before he buys an A7R

 

[DAVID BARKAN]

It should be nice because it only needs a simple C/Y to NEX adapter, or a simple EF to NEX in case it's leitaxed.

The Wide Angle SLR Contaxes, btw, apparently should work better then the Rangefinder line since the Distagon design works well with digital sensors as opposed to Biogon designs.